Grow Wild to Know Wild
Sweet Violet (Viola odorata)

Flowers: March-May
Preferred site: shade

Description: a low, creeping plant with fragrant flowers (15mm across), usually blue-violet or white. Leaves are broad and glossy. Stems and leaves are hairy. Both flowers and leaves grow from a central tuft.

Habitats in the wild: a plant of woodland margins, shady hedgebanks on calcareous or neutral soils.

Conservation status and threats: Sweet Violet is a native plant, but many of its populations in northern and western Britain are considered to be non-native. It is a common species and its distribution appears to be stable.

Reasons for losses in the wild : loss of the habitat, particularly destruction of hedgerows.

Folklore/medicinal uses : the fragrance of the flowers is very strong, and they have been used in the making of perfume as far back as Ancient Greece. It is a myth that you can only smell violet flowers once, but the fragrance is strangely short-lived. One of the chemicals, ionine, which makes up the violet’s scent, has the ability to deaden the smell receptors that detect it (Flora Britannica by Richard Mabey).

In medieval Britain, Sweet Violet was used as a deodorant. It has a long and proven history of folk use, especially in the treatment of cancer and whooping cough. It also contains salicylic acid, which is used to make aspirin, and is therefore effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine and insomnia. An essential oil from the flowers is used in aromatherapy in the treatment of bronchial complaints, exhaustion and skin complaints (Plants for a future). People also believe that the plants have a subtle, psychosomatic healing effect as one derives pleasure from looking at, handling and smelling the flowers.

Position in garden : a vigorous, spreading plant for the woodland garden or semi-shaded herbaceous border on fertile, well-drained soils. When happy, the plant spreads vigorously, so it is best planted in the wild garden.

How to plant and when: set out plants in autumn or spring, into well-dug and manured ground. Ensure plants are watered as necessary during the first few months after planting.

Propagation: Sweet Violet can easily be raised from seed sown thinly on a good seed compost in autumn or spring. Easier still, detach rooted young plants from established plants during spring or autumn, planting them directly into their final position.

Varieties available: the variety 'Alba' has pure white flowers and is especially beautiful. See the RHS Plant Finder for sources.

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